| I am sure you have heard about people being robbed | | | | loos etc. |
| and attacked when they have placed ads in the paper | | | | * While your home is on the market remove your |
| for everything from puppies to vehicles. Why do you | | | | valuables and place them in a safe deposit box, a |
| think this cannot or has not happened to people selling | | | | diversion safe or at the home of a trusted friend or |
| their homes? | | | | relative. |
| How many strangers have you given your home | | | | * If you have a room or area full of valuables you |
| phone number or invited into your home? | | | | cannot move, think about setting up a hidden camera. |
| This is what you do when you put your home phone | | | | * NEVER show the home alone. A "buyer" could bring |
| number on a sign and place it on your front lawn or at | | | | several people with him/or her and you cannot keep |
| the corner of your street. Then you invite a perfect | | | | tract of what they are doing . They could enter other |
| stranger or strangers into your home where anything | | | | parts of your residence and take small items or view |
| can happen. | | | | personal papers. |
| Here are a few tips on protecting yourself in the event | | | | * Which brings to mind, keep any checking account or |
| your would be buyer is not who you think he or she is. | | | | other personal information out of sight. |
| * Use your cell phone number on any for sale signs | | | | * An inconspicuous self defense product such as a |
| and indicate that it is a cell phone. | | | | pepper spray pen, a stun gun cell phone, or at the least |
| * If someone calls to set up a showing, NEVER tell | | | | a personal electronic whistle would be a good idea just |
| them you will not be there at a certain time. This just | | | | in case the "buyer/s" turn out to have criminal activity in |
| sets you up for a burglary. Make an excuse that does | | | | mind. |
| not take you away from the residence such as you | | | | * DO NOT sign anything without the advice of a good |
| have company coming. | | | | real estate attorney. |
| * Get as much information as you can over the phone | | | | Personally, I think it would be more prudent to leave the |
| from the "buyer" before you set up a showing. | | | | sale of probably your most valuable asset to a |
| Realtors get quite a bit of information from prospective | | | | professional real estate agent. In any event, use |
| buyers before they show homes to weed out lookie | | | | caution and commonsense. |